Artist Residency : Eric and Laura Cruikshank

​In October I'm pleased to be welcoming artists Eric and Laura Cruikshank for a joint residency here at Pasture Project Space.

Eric Cruikshank is a Scottish abstract artist, best known for his subtle colour field works that address notions of time, memory, and the emotive qualities of place. His art spans an array of media, organised by the support, with the collective factor being the addition and subtraction of the medium - all completed with a meticulous finish. The works operate as a bridge between abstraction and representation, where neither impression can be isolated, as each continuously emerges from and recedes into the other. A period of quiet focussed looking is required, where fragments of recollections emerge, raising questions about what can appear familiar, with definitive answers only reflecting a loss of possibility.

He graduated with a BA (Hons) Painting and Drawing from Edinburgh College of Art in 1997 and lives and works in Edinburgh. His artworks have been included in exhibitions throughout the UK, Europe, America, and Japan, and he has been the recipient of several awards and residencies.

This residency will offer time and space for him to explore directions beyond the familiar patterns of his Edinburgh studio, with the region’s rural terrain presenting the opportunity to develop new rhythms of working both out and in doors. Quick plein air drawings will provide a direct engagement with the landscape, while the studio will offer space for technical adaptation and refinement. This combination of working environments will position the residency as a period of development and progression, with Sudbury’s muted colour shifts and soft river light broadening my palette, encouraging a heightened sensitivity to pigment, tone, and the subtleties of environmental change.

​Laura Cruikshank is a process driven jeweller, based in Edinburgh, with a passion for working intuitively with materials. Following a ‘thinking through making' approach she allows the rhythms of observing, drawing, collecting, and making to overlap, where the act of being present forms the core focus and inspiration of her work. Laura's creative path is a combination of fine art and design, providing a strong foundation in ways of looking and studying the tactile world. Her work inspires curiosity for both the miniature details of the natural environment and the patience and craftsmanship of ancient techniques. With a passion for traditional skills and working in precious metals, Laura combines processes forming her own visual language. Lost wax casting, chain fabrication, texturing and filigree are collaged together resulting in contemporary, wearable compositions. An ever-growing library of abstracted forms, textures and subtle movements is slowly built where components are sensitively curated, allowing the work to organically reach a point where balance is achieved.

During her time here Laura will explore the use of locally foraged materials to construct abstracted miniature sculptures, following a deconstruction reconstruction process which reflects her curiosity for small, intricate and delicate shapes and forms. On return to her studio in Edinburgh Laura will use these compositions to test the casting process working with natural botanical materials and the potential held in direct translation to metal. Works on paper will also support this period of study, with an interest in journeying through the landscape documenting gathered fragments.